Hard work pays off for BCC graduates

“My message here today is continue to work toward your goals and it doesn't matter how long it takes."

Jo C. Goode Herald News Staff Reporter @jgoodeHN

FALL RIVER — It took more than two decades, time as an Army medic, raising a family and a 14-year career in technical support for Tracy Cooley, 43, to earn her nursing degree and to be honored as the Bristol Community College Class of 2017 valedictorian, but a consistent theme in her life was to constantly learn from her life experiences.

“My message here today is continue to work toward your goals and it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Just stay on your path even if it takes twists and turns along the way,” said Cooley. “What I have learned from my experience, and especially in the last two years in this incredibly difficult nursing program, is that successful people lift others up. I encourage you to take what you have learned her and pay it forward. Use your knowledge to help others and make positive changes.”

A resident of Somerset, Cooley received one of the 1,650 degrees and certificates awarded to students attending the ceremony for 2017 graduates in the school’s 50th anniversary year. The BCC graduates came from campuses in Fall River, Attleboro, New Bedford and Taunton.

Cooley will be attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s nursing program.

Fall River resident Samuel K. Lema is this year’s salutatorian, a graduate of BCC’s engineering science transfer program. Serving the past year as the student representative on the BCC Board of Trustees, Lema has been accepted to Cornell University.

Hundreds of graduates, faculty and state and local and state officials and family and friends gathered under a large white tent on the Elsbree Street campus for the celebration.

BCC President John Sbrega, who retires this year after 17 years at the college, praised the graduates on their accomplishments identifying that through “your intellect, your endurance, your drive and your stamina that you are here today.”

Known for being an ardent champion of education, Sbrega said that the mission of a community college is often misunderstood and that it is a “misnomer” that a community college is a two-year institution that should be accomplished in the national standard timeframe.

Students who take advantage of access to an education come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Sbrega proved it by asking students to stand if they were earned a GED, first in their families to attend college, raised families, took five, 10 or more years to earn their degrees.

Hundreds of graduates stood as Sbrega ticked off the questions. Sbrega said the community college students who have met their goals no matter how much time “on task deserve high praise, not criticism.

“For all you have accomplished, you did not travel alone. It is only through the support of others that accompanied you on your journey that you have been able to come to this day,” said Sbrega, who recognized the graduates families and loved ones and faculty and staff.

Gov. Charlie Baker, the featured commencement speaker, advised the graduates to “listen.”

Baker said his late mother always said God gave people two ears and one mouth for a reason, “so listen up.”

“I’m 60 now and I know I’m a lot smarter now than I was when I was 30,” Baker said. “Much of that growth came from listening to people that I disagreed with. If you simply listen to people who think the way you do and in the same way all the time you will dramatically diminish your capacity for growth.”

Baker also presented Sbrega with a citation in recognition for his years of service to BCC.

Baker and the Rev. Robert Lawrence were awarded honorary associate's degrees in humane letters.

Fall River Police Chief Daniel Racine, a 30-year veteran of the city police department and BCC alumni, was presented the college’s Distinguished Citizen award by Sbrega. The award is presented annually to an outstanding local resident.

Sbrega also recognized retired professors David Owen, professor emeritus of astronomy an biology and Gabriel Pereira, emeritus of history and the John J. Sbrega, Ph.D Exemplary Service Award to James T. Grady, who served on the BCC board of trustees and the BCC Foundation Board.

Joanne Carroll-Connor, adjunct instructor in business administration and also a BCC graduate, was given the Last Lecture award created by the BCC Student Senate and selected by the student body as an outstanding educator that has touched students lives.

Rather than leaving the students with parting advice, Carroll-Connor imparted some advice she gives her students on the first day of class, to do the hard stuff first, have the best mind set and find their niche.

“I want every student who crosses this stage to feel the support and the pride from all of us today.”